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Named in a will, or dealing with an estate?

Know what the estate papers say, before you sign or reply.

A will, a letter from the estate's solicitor, the accounts or a deed of variation, read in plain English. The people, the dates and the amounts marked on your own pages, with the questions to take to a solicitor or a probate paralegal.

Launch price £49 for up to 10 pages. Standard price £99 from 1 February 2027.

up to 10 pages, then £3 a page

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We don't apply for probate, write or change wills, or act as or for an executor. We don't administer estates, and we don't advise whether to make, defend or settle a claim.

Preparing probate papers is a reserved legal activity under the Legal Services Act 2007. You can do it yourself, unpaid; doing it for a fee is limited to people entitled to under the Act. We aren't, and we don't. This page is about England and Wales: probate rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Free help first.

Who usually handles it: a solicitor or a probate paralegal. To find a solicitor who handles wills and probate: Law Society Find a Solicitor.

What people bring us.

  • A will you're named in.

    As an executor or a beneficiary: who gets what, who is in charge, and any conditions attached.

  • A letter from the estate's solicitor.

    What it says is happening, what it asks of you, and by when.

  • Estate accounts.

    Every figure in and out, set out so you can see what to ask about.

  • A deed of variation you've been asked to sign.

    What would change, and for whom. Citizens Advice says you should get legal advice.

  • A letter of claim under the Inheritance Act 1975.

    What's claimed, by whom, and on what basis. Citizens Advice says these claims need specialised legal advice.

  • A caveat, or a warning about one.

    A caveat stops probate being granted. GOV.UK says it lasts 6 months at first, can be extended, and can lead to legal action and legal costs.

  • A lasting power of attorney you've been given.

    What you can decide, and the instructions you must follow. GOV.UK says you can't start acting until it's registered.

Some time limits are short. A claim under the Inheritance Act can't be made more than six months after the grant of probate or letters of administration, unless the court allows it. A warning about a caveat has to be answered within 14 days, including weekends and bank holidays. We don't calculate or watch deadlines. If a letter gives a date, speak to a solicitor now. A pack can still help you brief them.

What we mark for you.

  1. Who is named, and in what role: executor, beneficiary, attorney or claimant.
  2. Every gift, share and condition, and what each one depends on.
  3. Every date and amount: deadlines in letters, figures in the accounts.
  4. What you're being asked to sign or agree to, and what would change if you did.

Each point is pinned to its page, with a question to ask. A star marks wording that may help you.

What a pack does, and doesn't do.

Does

  • Explains what the will, letters and accounts say
  • Lists every date, name and amount
  • Writes your questions for a solicitor, a probate paralegal or Citizens Advice

Doesn't

  • Apply for probate or fill in probate forms
  • Write, change or judge the validity of a will
  • Act as or for an executor, or deal with the estate
  • Advise whether to make, defend or settle a claim
  • Contact the estate, its solicitor or the family

What a first step can cost.

  • £354–£506

    Selected court guideline rates for a senior solicitor's hour, inc. VAT: not a market range or a quote. Firms set their own prices.1

  • Estates and claims

    Ask for a written fee estimate before you instruct anyone.

  • Applying for probate yourself

    GOV.UK says it can be cheaper than paying a probate practitioner. You may have to pay a court fee.

Read it first for £49. Spend the solicitor's time on your questions, not on finding the clause. We can't promise a lower bill.

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Find a solicitor: Law Society Find a Solicitor

Know what you're being asked, then decide.

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Preparation for advice, not advice. We don't apply for probate, write wills or act for executors. If a letter gives a date, tell your solicitor now.

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